WIRRAL Council defended its controversial plans to close 11 libraries during the final day of the inquiry into the proposals.

Alan Stennard, director of regeneration for the authority was giving evidence to the hearing, chaired by former London borough chief executive Sue Charteris.

The second and final day of the inquiry into the library closures – part of the Strategic Asset Review (SAR) announced by Wirral late last year – focused on the council’s plans.

Mr Stennard faced difficult questions from Ms Charteris and early on admitted the authority had “not done a specific study” of people’s library requirements for the SAR.

But he insisted “quite a bit of work” had been done in previous years and the authority had drawn on local knowledge of council officers and cabinet members.

He said the authority had committed to spend £20m on new facilities and a further £6m on IT.

In response to repeated questions on the same theme from Ms Charteris, who was also asking questions which had been submitted by members of the public, Mr Stennard said 13 libraries had been established as the “best fit for the borough”, but acknowledged there was “no specific modelling” to back this up.

Fewer people than the estimated 150 members of the public who attended the first day were at the Floral Pavilion for the end of the inquiry, but they applauded when the counsel to the inquiry, Samantha Leek, asked what seemed to be the key question of the two days.

She pressed Mr Stennard on the fact the most of the libraries slated for closure are in “deprived areas” and asked what the council was doing “to ensure those people are not disadvantaged”.

Mr Stennard, who had earlier outlined various outreach schemes and plans to move services currently offered through libraries elsewhere offered to submit a written answer to her question.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport said they aimed to have a decision by the end of July.

Library laws 'inconsistent'

THE inspector appointed to examine Wirral’s library closure plans needs to asses whether they are “reasonable”, an inquiry was told.

The hearing into Wirral Council’s library closure plans was ordered in April by the then Culture Secretary Andy Burnham.

He appointed Sue Charteris to examine whether Wirral Council is complying with the 1964 Libraries Act in its obligation to provide a “comprehensive and efficient” service.

Richard Clayton QC, barrister employed by Wirral Council, said the inquiry needed to look at what is meant by “comprehensive and efficient” and said this was made difficult because the wording of the law is vague.

He said: “The real question is has the authority acted reasonably.”

He added: “Whatever the criticism of the policies there is a big difference between saying you do not agree with it and that there has been a breach of the Libraries Act.”